Box-filling machine.



F. BARTER.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man APR.16,19|4. RENEwED Dac. 16,1915.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Fig. Z

Inventor:

Witnesses KRAMER.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16. |914. RENEWED DEC. I6. |915.

F. BARTER.

BOX FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 16, 1914. RENEwED DEC. 16.1915.

1,173,917. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fig?

Witnesses Inventor'.

5 F'rcmK Burer, (QW ymw fm' Attorneys I narran srarns .FRANK BARTER, 0F FETCHBURG, TJIASSAGHUSETTS, .SiSSIGNOR T0 IERO'WN BAG FLLNG M CHNE COFIPANY, 0F FTCHBURG, MASSACHS'ETTS, .Pl CORPORATGN 0F MASS- CHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

patented Feb. 2%, ifblid..

Application led April 16, 1914, Serial No. 832,332. Renewed December 16, 1915. Serial No. 67,997.

T0 all whom it' may concern.'

Be it known that l, FRANK BARTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, county of TWorcester., iState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Box-Filling Machines, of Which the following description, in connection With the accompanying drawing, is a speciiication, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. i l

' This invention relates to a box illing machine and more particularly to an automatic box conveyer for such a machine.

T he invention has for an object to provide means for conveying the boxes one by one to the point at .which they are filled, holding them in position While they are being lled and then automatically carrying them forward to the point of delivery.

The invention also has for an object to provide -a conveying mechanism which may be adjusted to convey boxes of diiierent sizes.

Another object is to provide conveyer mechanism which may be adjusted to cause a longer or shorter dwellvof the box while being filled in order that it may be filled by one or a plurality of operations of the filling mechanism.

Another object Ais to provide means Whereby the boxes Whatever their size .Will be placed in definite predetermined positions on the principal conveyer element.

In the drawings in which I have disclosed an illustrative embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail viewl showing a device for pressing the boxes down against the auxiliary conveyer belt and a guard rail to-insure a fully open position of the covers; Fig. 4 is aplan view of the conveyer mechanism ando-f the box feed controlling mechanism, certain parts being removed; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 7 is a sectional vievv` taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views of certain gears and cams coperating therewith.

The machine illustrated comprises a tablet handling mechanism todeliver a definite number of tablets at fixed intervals, and conl in Fig. 2. f

The box conveying mechanism of this 'invention provides a suitable conveyer for conveying the boxes successively and intermittently to the tablet receiving position and in its preferred forni as illustrated this conveyer is a linked belt or chain 2 having box engaging projections 3. The bo-x conveying mechanism also comprises an auxiliary mechanism for separating and delivering to the principal conveyer the boxes one at a time or in groups of a predetermined number. ln the preferred form of the invention this auxiliary mechanism also acts to receive and carry the boxes to the position at which they are separated and delivered andthen to deliver them to the principal con-- veyer.

More specifically and in the preferred form herein illustrated the auxiliary mechanism is shown as comprising a box-receiving conveyer belt 4 upon which the boxes may be placed by the operator, tvvo substantially parallel `transferring belts 5, 6 for transferring the boxes from the receiving conveyer to the principal conveyer and the mechanism for separatingy the boxes or determining the feeding of the boxes to the principal conveyer. rlhis latter mechanism for separating the boxes which is herein regarded as a part of the auxiliary mechanism in the preferred form illustrated comprises the detaining elements 7, 8 and their operation is shown as controlled by the principal conveyer so that the operation of the auxiliary mechanism in delivering the boxes as required to the principal conveyer is in the preferred form of the invention controlled by that conveyer itself. The last element of the box conveying mechanism is a delivery conveyer belt 9 for carrying away and discharging the filled boxes. The several parts are driven from a power shaft 10 which in turn is connected by the belt gearing to -a motor 11. A table 12 provides the necessary support.

The conveyer chain 2 of usual construction is mounted upon sprocket Wheels secured to shafts 13, 14 carried in a two-part frame 15. The parts of the frame are slidably mounted in ways 16 and in a stand 17 secured to the table to provide` adjustment whereby the tension of the conveyerchain 2 and of the driving sprocket chain 18 may be adjusted.

The front part of this frame is made in the form of a reach rod having an adjustable joint asindicated at 19, thus providing a frame which when adjusted is ri 'd and secure. Cross shaftsl 20 and 21 form parts of this frame and serve as supports for rails 22 and 23, adjustably mounted thereon. The rails provide'supports forl the edges of the boxes and guidance at the sides thereof. A supplemental rail 24 guides the covers of the boxes. Set screws 25 hold. the rails in adjusted position. The range of adjustment o`f the rails is sufficient to provide guidance for boxes of different sizes.

Upon the rear end of the shaft 13 is secured a sprocket wheel which is connected by the driving chain 18 toa sprocket wheel 26 driven intermittently from a constantly rotating shaft 27 which is in turn operatively jconnected to the power shaft. A counter 28 may be connected to the shaft if desired.

The tablet handling mechanism previously mentioned' is operated to deliver a predetermined number of tablets once during each revolution of the shaft 27 and as the number which may be delivered is limited, it is ysometimes desirable to hold each `box in receiving position during a plurality of operations of such mechanism, or, in the construction illustrated, during a plurality of revolutions of the tshaft 27 The intermittent ygearing comprises a` desired movement to the principal conveyer chain. Accordingly, the follower presents driving teeth 33 on three sides thereof with concaved .faces 34 intermediate the teeth. The driver presents upon one face a -few teeth 35 to correspond with the teethkof the teeth extend only part way along the driver follower, the rest of its circumference being cylindrical and arranged to engage the smooth concave portionsof the follower to hold the follower against rotation. They so that it hasV a cylindrical portion at one side and means are provided toy move the follower laterally .so that this cylindrical portion of the driverwill engage-the concave Thus the driver such that the second gear will rotate once for each time that it is desired to have the driver drive the follower. A cam 38 is secured to the gear 37 A coperating cam 39 is splined upon the shaft 32.. The sleeve 31 with the follower and sprocket wheel is loosely and slidably mounted upon the shaft 32. A spring 40 urges the sleeve toward the gear 37. The cams are so designed that during each revolution of the gear 37 with the `cam secured thereto the sleeve is moved inwardly by the spring so that the follower will lie in the same lane as they toothed portion of the driver. ccordingly when in this position the follower is given a partial rotamechanism.

I have illustrated the gears 36, 37 as of a' ratio one to two so that the follower'l is driven upon alternate rotations of the shaft 27. It will be obvious however that this ratio may be changed to accomplish any result desired. In order to change the mechanism so that the principal conveyer will be driven `once during each revolution of the shaft y27 it is only necessary to remove the cam member 39 which is splined on the shaft 32. The follower will then,l remain in one plane and will be operated by the driver during each revolution.

The shaft 2 7 is connected to the'shaft 41 by a vertical shaft 42 and miter gears as shown in Fig. 6. Cone pulleys 43 and 44 upon the power shaft 10 and the shaft 41' respectively,

gear 37 the follower provide means for varying` the speed. The f cone pulley 43 is connected to its shaft by means of a clutch 45 which may be operated in any convenient r`mlanner. I have illustrated a spring-pressedshifter 46 which may be operated in one direction by a link 47 and lever 48 and is held in position by a detent 49 engaging the frame. To release the clutch the detent is raised by a foot'lever 50 and the spring'. releases the clutch.

The box receiving conveyer belt 4 is mounted upon pulleys `51, 52 secured to the shafts 53, 54 which in turn are rotatably supported in an auxiliary framev 55 secured to the table. A spring 56`engages ythev boxes to hold them steady in'position while being filled. The shaft 53 is connected to the main power shaft by belt gearing of usual construction to be constantly driven thereby.

The belt/4 and conveyer chain 2 preferably operate in alinement, and to insure the transfer of boxes to proper position on the nally of the shaft to permit adjustment for boxes of different sizes.,` A plurality of grooves 59 are provided at each end of the pulley 5l to provide for this' adjustment. The brackets by which the rails are secured to the shaft 2l provide stops to limit the lateral movement 'of the pulleys 57, 58 in. one direction and collars 60, 61 secured to the shaft limit movement in the opposite direction. The belts may thus be positioned near the edges of boxes of any size to prevent lateral tipping thereof.

In the structure shown the belts 4L, 5, 6 run continuously and at a much greater velocity than the chain thus frictionally engaging the boxes and slipping beneath them when they are held by the detents. It is only essential, however, that the transferring means should operate to quickly carry the boxes forward to the proper position upon the chain at the predetermined time.

Rails 62, 63 are adjustably secured to the auxiliary frame 55 by bolt and slot connections as illustrated in Fig. 4. These rails serve as a .continuation of the rails 22 and 23, but are of a shape to engage the sides only of the boxes. A plate 6ft' engages the underside ofthe belt 4- thus keeping the belt steady and preventing the tipping of the boxes.

The boxes to be iilled are opened and placed upon the belt 4 which'carries them forward toward the conveyer chain until stopped by the detents 7, 8f Mechanism controlled by the chain 2 is provided-to alternately project the detents into the path of movement of the boxes. The forward detent 8 is withdrawn to release the forwardmost box each time the chain takes the position for receiving a box, the rear detent 7 being simultaneously projected inward to engage the second' box. The detents are then reversely operated and the boxes moved forward to position -for another feeding operation. l

I prefer to provide means to insure a certain degree of friction between the boxes and the belts. I have accordingly illustrated' a plate 65 secured to the rail 63 as at 66, and projecting over the edges of the boxes, and a spring guard 67 secured to the plate. This guard is positioned to engage the box lying` immediatelvbehind the detent 8 and holdy it down against the belt with sulflcient pressure to insure the desired forward movement when this detent is withdrawn. By this means I `insure sufficient pressure of the boxes uponthe belts so that they will be transferred to position on the chain quickly and surely before a projection 3 comes up beneath. I lind this of advantage because the boxes usually employed are very light and the weight of the boxes is insuiicient to insure a proper action.

A supplemental rail 68 in alinement with the rail 24; supports the covers. In order to provide access to the conveying mechanism so that boxes may be removed laterally from beneath the guard 67 if desired, l hinge the forward portion of the supplemental rail as indicated at 69. This portion of the rail may thus be lifted and theboxes removed laterally. A metaltstrip 70 secured l to this hinged portion engages the rail 22 and forms a sufficiently rigid connection to hold the hinged portion in place.

I have illustrated a preferred form of detent controlling mechanism in Fig. 2l. A rock shaft 7l is mounted in a plate 72 adjustably secured to the auxiliary frame as indicated at 7 3, 74. Upon the upper end of this rock shaft is secured the arm connected to the slidable detent 8. A second arm 76 is pivoted on the upper 'end of this rock shaft and controls the detent 7. A. spring 7 7 is connected to upwardly projecting lugs 78 79 on the arms 75, 76, respectively. rlhe lug 78 also serves as a stop to limit the relative movement of the arm 76. The spring thus tends to hold the two arms in alinement. A spring 80 connected to an arm 8l on the lower end of the rock shaft and to the support -55 urges this rock shaft toward one extrey e position. lThe detent 8 is thus normall held inward in position to prevent the forward movement of the boxes, and the detent-'Tis normally held retracted. It is 'to be noted that the forward detent 8 is-designed to project into a linlr 83. This lever has Aa `finger 84.- which projects into position to be engaged bythe projections 3 of the chain 2 4upon the lower run thereof, lther consequent operation of the detente serving to release the forward box but holding the others.

A lever pivoted to the auxiliary'frame is provided with a notch 86 which serves 'as a detent coperating with a pin upon the leverV 82 to cause the detent 8 to be held reltracted a suilicient time to permit the forward movement -of the yreleased box. A cam 87 is'adjustably secured to the lever in position to be engaged by the projections 'of the chain. A. spring 88 urges the lever toward the chain. A pin 89 on the under side of the lever 85 operates as a stop to limit the movement of the lever 82. To release the lever 82 the cam 87 is engaged by a projectionof the chain 2, thus moving the lever about its pivot. rIhe spring 88 then returns the rock shaft to initial position, thus projecting the detent 8 into the path of the boxes and withdrawing the detent 7, whereby the boxes are carried forward a limited. distance. A guard 90 is provided to prevent lateral movement of the chain when a projection engages the cam. rlhis guard is secured to the frame so that the chain is always held in central position regardless of the adjusted position of the rails.

I have illustrated a guard 91 which extends diagonally with respect to they rails and is designed to engage the box covers, whenboxes with hinged covers are used, to insure such covers being swung back to fully open position before they are carried beneath the tablet feeding mechanism.

rIhe delivering belt 9 is illustrated in Fig. 1 where one end of the belt and its supporting pulley is represented. A plate 92is provided to support the boxes between the end of the rails and the belt. Itis unnecessary to provide an intermediate transferring mechanism to carry the boxes from the principal conveyer to the delivering belt as the boxes will be pushed valong by those behind.

'I have illustrated boxes of such a size that one box substantially fills a space between successive conveyer projections. This -is not essential, however, as smaller boxes will` be positioned with suiiicient accuracy by' the mechanism shown. When -very small boxes are used in this machine a plurality of boxes will be released by thedetent mechanism and will take their position between successive conveyer projections. When the machine is s'used the tablet handling mechanism is arranged tol discharge tablets in. a plurality of groups.

Having claim as new 'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I c

l. In a machiney of the character described, a conveyer having projections, auxiliary mechanism to deliver boxes to said conveyer, comprising two detents, and

means controlled by the ,conveyer to alternately operate said detents to cause boxes to be carried forward only at predetermined times.`

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyer having projections, auxiliary mechanism tofdeliver boxes -to said conveyer, comprising detents spaced apart a distance greater than the' length of the boxes, means operated. by the `conveyer to release one detent and operate the other, and other meansoperated by the conveyer to 4operate the rst detent and release the second.

described my invention, what Il j invasi?- 3. In a machine of the character described a conveyer having projections, frictionally operating elements to carry boxes to said conveyer, means to control the operation of said frictionally operating elements to cause gaged by successive projections of said conveyer to move said first mentioned recipro- -cable member inone direction, means controlled by the principal conveyer to retain said reciprocable member in such position for a predetermined period.

4. In a machine of the character described, parallel rails, a principal conveyer member movable longitudinally between said rails, and having stops, auxiliary means for feeding boxes to said principal conveyer comprising parallel conveyer members movable longitudinally between said rails and arranged on'opposite sides of said principal conveyer and operating at a higher speed than said principal conveyer to carry boxes forward against the stops of said principal conveyer, means operating in opposition to said auxiliary means todetain said boxes in their forward movement, and at predetermined intervals to release a forward box and to hold succeeding boxes. i

5. In a machine of the character dye-v scribed, a principal conveyer having projections, auxiliary means for feeding objects to said principal conveyer comprising friction elements'operating at each side of said ,principal conveyer, and at ahigher speed loe and acting jointly at each side of the objects,

to carry the said objects successively to'said principal conveyer and against the projections thereof, and means operating in opposition tosaid auxiliary means to detain said objects in their forward movement and at predetermined intervals to release oneobject-and to hold succeeding objects.

6. In a machine of the character described, parallel rails, a conveyer chain movable longitudinally between said parallel' rails and having projections at regular intervals, auxiliary means to ycarry objects to said chain and against said projections comprising a` belt operating substantially in said chain, parallel4 belts positioned laterally of said chain and said belt, a pulley having a central belt surfaceycarrying said first belt and grooves carrying said Vlaterally posiy12s alinement with and at a greater speed than 70 boxes to be carried forward thereby only at l '.scribed, parallel was,

tioned belts and laterally adjustable ulleys positioned on opposite sides of sai chain and carrying said belts.

7 In a machine of the character described, a conveyer arranged to receive objects in definite positionsand means for automatically transferring objects `at regular predetermined intervals to said conveyer compris- .ing parallel `'belts operating on opposite sides of said conveyer and means to press the boxes against saidparallel belt.

rails, auxiliary means for'conveying boxes' to intermittently drive said conveyer chain 8. In a machine vof the character". de#y scribed, parallel rails, a ,conveyer movable longitudinally between said parallel rails, and arranged to receive boxes in definite ovsitions,'means for automatically trans erring boxes at'predetermined intervals to said conveyer comprisin parallel belts operating at opposite sides o `said conveyer, a guar secured toioneof said rails and positioned to" press downwardly upon the boxes ressing them against the parallel belts to insure friction between the box and: belts. 9. In a machine of the character dea conveyer movable between said parallel' rails,

scribed, a shaft, 'a pair of; parallel rails, a'

vintermittently to said conveyer chain to definite positions thereon, a power shaft, means from said shaft comprising a constantly rotating driver presenting operative and inop-- erative portions positioned laterally with re-v spect to each other, a follower cooperating with said driver' and' auxila means to cause relative lateral movement etween said driver and follower to cause the operative portion of said driver to engage said follower at regular predetermined intervals and means operated by said power shaft to constantly drive-said auxiliary mechanism.

12. In, a machine of the. character deconveyer chain movable longitudinally between said parallel rails, an auxiliary mechanism to carry boxes to said conveyer chain at predetermined intervals, means to drive said chain from said powervshaft including means for auto--A matically transferring boxesat regular pre-l determined intervals to said conveyer comprising parallelbelts operating at opposite sides of said conveyer', a guard secured to Vone of the rails and positioned to engage the *easing and-beltand brid g operated by 50.

v scribed, ,parallel rails,

ainst boxes to presslthe 'same downwardly a the parallel belts,l a nally above said para to engagethe covers of the the same backwardly.

el belts and positioned boxes and press *.10'. In 'a machinev -ofthe 'character del a conveyer chain longitudinally movable between said parallel.

giard extending agoparallel shafts, -a driver secured to' one of. said-parallel shafts and presenting teeth on one side only, thereof and extending a part only'of the length'thereo f,a follower securediupon the other of ,said-shafts, prelsentinga concave portion, a gear secured to said first shaft, a cooperating gear loosely mountedupon said second shaft, a'cam secured toene side thereof, a cooperatingv cam sphned uponisaid shaft between said second ear andsaid follower, a spring urging said ollower toward said cam whereby upon rotation 'of theiirst shaft the follower will be Arails and having box engagin projections,

means to automatically trans er boxes for.-

wardly to said chain and against 'the boxenprjections 'thereof atpredetermined intervals compri-sing a"belt operating e ts alinement with said'chain and arallel operating on opposite sideso said chain alined chain and lt, a power shaft, means .conveyer c determined intervals and means o erate by the space between saidy the power shaft to drive' the ain a limited distance jat 'resaid. powershaft to' drive said'` elts at aA constant speed.

. 11. In a machine ofl the character de- Ascribed, parallel rails, ahconveyer chain mov'- able longitudinally betweenrsaid parallel t moved longitudinally ofr its shaft at .predetermined intervals to position the-.follower in ahnement with the different-portions lof the driver, whereb the .follower will be driven intermittenty upon rotation .of the.

name to this specification, in the presence of 

